Now the Premier League star has opened up for the first time about his loss, saying: “You realise playing football was a f***ing walk in the park compared to telling your kids their mum isn’t coming back.

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“I’ve never had to do something so hard, so emotionally draining and testing.

“At the time you think, ‘I’m coping.’ You’re sitting there, the kids are in bed, you can’t sleep, but you don’t want to think about anything.